Luc Bauwens, Zoo Antwerpen, Veterinary Department, Koningin Astridplein 26, B-2018 Antwerpen, Belgium.
Tel.: 00 3232024548. Fax: 00 3232024549.
E-mail: [email protected]

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Summary

Cryptococcosis was diagnosed postmortem in a striped grass mouse (Lemniscomys barbarus) housed in the nocturnal department of Antwerp Zoo. Eight of the remaining mice in the cage were captured. Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated from the lung of one animal. Two mice had an elevated serum cryptococcal antigen titre. On examination of the pooled faecal samples collected from 17 animal species housed in 23 cages of the nocturnal department, the pathogenic yeast was isolated from the faeces of the striped grass mice and a degu (Octodon degus). Numerous Cr. neoformans colonies were isolated from a tree-trunk, tree-stumps, and decaying wood collected from a hollow tree used to decorate the animals cage. Subsequent examination in four other cages of the nocturnal department revealed that all the sampled tree-trunks were colonized by Cr. neoformans. The fungus was isolated from the air sampled in the cage of the degu. Air samples collected in the public and service corridors remained negative. All the isolated strains were identified as Cr. neoformans var. neoformans serotype A.

Zusammenfassung

Bei einer afrikanischen Streifengrasmaus (Lemniscomys barbarus. untergebracht in einem Nachttierhaus des Antwerpener Zoos, wurde post morten eine Cryptococcus neoformans-Infektion festgestellt. Im gleichen Käfig wurden 25 weitere Tiere gehalten. Bei einer Grasmaus von 8 getöteten wurde Cr. neoformans aus der Lunge isoliert. Bei zwei weiteren Mäusen war Cryptococcus-Antigen im Bluserum nachweisbar. Cr. neoformans wurde auch aus den gesammelten Exkrementen der Grasmäuse sowie eines Degu (Octodon degus) isoliert. Aus den gesammelten Exkrementen aus 23 käfigen des Nachttierhaus die mit 17 verschiedener Tiergattungen belegt waren, wurde Cryptococcus zweimal isoliert; aus die Exkrementen der Grasmäuse sowie eines Degu (Octodon degus). Hingegen wurde Cr. neoformans wiederholt aus einem Baumstumpf, aus Baumresten und vermodertem Holz angezüchtet, das zur Dekoration des Tierkäfigs diente, ebenso auch aus Baumresten von vier weiteren Käfigen. Auch war der Pilz in der Luft des Degu-Käfigs nachweisbar, dagegen nicht in den Luftsammelproben aus den Laufgängen für das Publikum und für das Personal. Alle Isolate wurden als Cr. neoformans var. neoformans Serotyp A identifiziert.

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Volume47, Issue7

August 2004

Pages 292-296

Isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans in Antwerp Zoo's nocturnal house

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Isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans in Antwerp Zoo's nocturnal house

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